1960s Faber Castell Osmia Progress No. 66G 14K Gold Hooded OOB Nib Piston Fountain Pen Item ID: VAR-122

Faber Castell Osmia Progress No.66G

Manufacturer/Model: Faber Castell Osmia Progress/66G OBB/Germany
Year of production: Early to mid 1960s
Filling system: Piston Filling
Nib: Solid 14K 585 Gold, OBB - Oblique Double Broad
Material: Black Resin; Gold filled trimmings
Length (pen closed): 131mm, posted 155mm

Condition and information:
A truly gorgeous pen from the 60s, with a lot of history attached to it. The Osmia company was founded in 1919. They made some amazing writing instruments and were strongly admired for their pen quality and innovation. This caught the eye of some of the larger pen makers in Europe, and soon enough in mid 1930s, Osmia was partially acquired by Faber Castell. Since the Osmia brand had a such a good reputation, Faber Castell decided to keep the brand, and thus continue to make only the best of their fountain pens under the brand Faber Castell Osmia. In fact, the pens were made in part by the same people that worked at Osmia. However in early 1950s, the entire Osmia company was acquired by Faber Castell and they decided to phase out the Osmia name completely, only the diamond Osmia logo stayed on their pens, without the Osmia name, i.e. this pen, made in early to mid 1960s.

The pen here is one of the last Faber Castell models that will bare the Osmia logo on the top of the cap as a crown, and this was the Progress line. The pen here is of the more modern generation at the time, made out of black resin, as well as the semi hooded nib, which was the trend in the 1960s. It is a true masterpiece pen as only Osmia could contrive, made to compete and even surpass its biggest rivals at the time, the Pelikan 400 and the Montblanc 142/144 which were in its class. The build quality, the precision, the compactness of the fitted parts is extraordinary. The pen has that familiar curved line of that 50s German design, very similar to the Pelikan 400 and some Monte Rosa pens. The beautiful Osmia logo is located on the top as a crown, as well as on the nib. Gold plated wide ring and clip are pristine with no gold wear off. The pen has a superb piston filling system, smooth with its original silicone cork. The piston works perfectly and will operate as such for decades to come.

Where the Osmia pens give Pelikan and Montblanc run for their money is with their superb nibs. Osmia was renowned for their nibs. The nib here is a rare factory made and imprinted on the barrel OBB, and with even some small flex to it. This nib will produce some of the most amazing writing one can hope to achieve. It is a wet nib with a section inlaid radiator feed, and it will write constant thick wet line. The line variation will change with every stroke or curve on every letter as the nib will change its origination i.e. "angle of attack" towards the paper. The user can also do this simply by changing the angle of the pen towards the paper or even by rotating it slightly in the hand. OBB nibs are hardly made nowadays and are simply the pinnacle of fountain pen nibs.

The pen comes in pristine condition, it is perfectly preserved, no scratches, cracks, dings, teeth marks, gold ware off or any cosmetic or functional issues. Wonderful writing instrument to be enjoyed daily!